The Audio Publishers Association reported on Monday that audiobook sales revenue rose 13% in 2024 to USD2.22bn, marking a return to double-digit growth following a 9% increase in 2023.

Digital formats drove the expansion, accounting for 99% of total revenue and growing 14% year over year.

Consumer interest continues to widen, with 51% of US adults -- approximately 134 million people -- having listened to an audiobook. Among non-listeners, 38% now express interest, up from 32% in 2024, with those "very interested" nearly doubling to 18%.

General Fiction remains the top revenue-generating genre, increasing 16% over the prior year, followed by Science Fiction / Fantasy, Romance, and General Non-Fiction. The highest year-on-year gains were recorded in Romance (+30%), Children's and Young Adult (+26%), and Science Fiction / Fantasy (+21%).

Piracy remains a challenge, with 35% of listeners accessing audiobooks via YouTube -- often due to cost -- up from 27% in 2023. The Association said that it is actively addressing this issue.

Accessibility also influences consumption patterns, with 72% of listeners emphasising the importance of availability on their preferred listening platform and 63% valuing access through library apps.

While AI-narrated audiobook output has grown, consumer willingness to try AI voices has declined from 77% in 2023 to 70% in 2025.